A man has been arrested after two women were held hostage at a charity building.

West Midlands Police were called to an incident in Digbeth, at around 3pm yesterday.

The Birmingham Mail reported that the hostages were being held at the Pathways charity building, which is run by Birmingham Industrial Therapy Association.

The charity provides a range of education, volunteering and employment services for adults with mental health problems.

Police said just before 8.30pm that a man had been arrested.

The force tweeted: "The man, who is unconnected to the charity, entered the building around 3pm unarmed. It is unclear at this stage what his motives for holding the two women were. Both women are receiving appropriate support after their ordeal."

Earlier it was reported that a man had locked himself and two staff into a private area.

The Birmingham Mail quoted a worker at one of Digbeth coach station's business units, saying he was threatened by an individual shortly before the hostages were taken.

Luke Hicks said: "He was moving the chairs and talking in a foreign language, Eastern European I think.

"He was acting really strange and had something in his hand, which I thought at first was a cigarette. He was waving his arms and I said, 'don't speak to him'.

"He said something, he grabbed the display off my till and showed his hand. He had a piece of metal."